Huntsville gazette., 1887-09-03
WHAT HESAW IN EUROPE.
Fred Douglass Talks i'm Wash,
ingtOn Of His Experiences
While Abroad.

D0uglas who has been abroad FOL
eleven months has returned to his
nome in Washington. When asked
to>day abount the report that the
Rev. Mr.. E:ans, passenger on the
City of Rome with Mr.. Douglass, had
declined to take part in an entertain
ment on shipboard at which MIR.
Douglass presided, he said:
"If Mr.. Evans or any one else kept
away from the little entertainment
we had because | was selected to
preside, it, did not reach my ear. l
did not meet Mr. Evans to know him
The entertainment was a very in
formal affair. There were little
music and recitations and | made a
speech Of about ten minutes leng .b.
1t was very well received and some Of
the passengers told me it was he
most enjoyable part os the entertain
ment. I ton't know whether they
meant it, Or simple wished to tickle
my vanity. but, at any rate, they were
succe ssful, for was very much graf
flied at their praise, I am sorry If
any one kept away from the enter
tainment on..my account, but | am
10 and man, past seventy. and if MIR.
Evans will please pardon me for liv-
ing little longer [ shall be thar kful.
Having no part or lot in my creation,
| suppose I may be excused for liv,
ing.
"You may say" Mr.. Douglass
"that on no occasion dur
ing my long absence was there any
indicai ion by word, look or action
that was least thought ofor regard
ed on account of my color. Even
Americans greeted me cordially, and
l can say that the American abroad
is very delightful person to meet.
In England I had the pleasure OF
meeting old friends whom knew
thirty or forty years ago. Then from
England | went to Paris, where re-
NAMED two months, and was very
much Interested in this clever and
attractive people. | went from there
to Nice. Genoa, Rome. Naples and to
Cairo, Egypt. In Egypt | passed the
greater part of lest winter, and found
the climate delightful. I took my
seventy years and my $50 pounds to
the top of the highest pyramid, and
when | reached the ton | wished
heartily that I was at the bottom.
There were two Areb: pulling me in
front and Arabs pushing me behind,
but when I reached the top | was
completely played out.
"The ruins of Memphis and other
ancient cities interested me greatly,
and after examining the smoothly
hewn blocks of stone and the exact
mas onry I concluded that we are not
able to excel the aucients in the con-
struction of buildings, although it is
supposed that or facilities for such
work are far superior.
"Then | visited Athens and saw
the grove where Socrates walked and
and talked. the Stadia where the
games were held, and assembled the
hill where Paul, surrounded Wi h
evidences of the culture and intel
ligence of the city, had the boldness
to tell them that they were super
stiiious."
Mr.. Douglass thought the French
Republic was held together by very
slender thread. Their constitution
was weak. Their Corps Legislatif, a
house Of parliament, could. by two
thirds vote, change the entire form
of government. Mr.. Douglass ad-
mired the French people, and add
ed:
''They are exceedingly loyal aud
patriotic, but they caunot stand de-
feat. If France is prosperous, and
has peace for namber of years,
everything will run along smoothly,
but at the first reversal or defeat the
people will demand change. /
heard Mr.. Gladstone in the British
Parliament from the speakers gal
lery. He Was debating the Irish